| Though not widely promoted, age-related eye | | | | carotene content of these supplements is usually |
| diseases such as glaucoma have been rising, along | | | | listed in international units (IU). Look for products |
| with all the other degenerative diseases such as | | | | made from an algae called Dunaliella salina, in |
| cancer, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer's. | | | | amounts of from 10,000IU to 25,000IU of beta |
| Four million Americans now suffer from glaucoma, | | | | carotene. These mixed carotene supplements will |
| the leading cause of blindness in the United States. | | | | typically include the carotenoids alpha-carotene, |
| Approximately 120,000 of these people have | | | | beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and |
| actually gone blind from glaucoma. Ten percent of | | | | cryptoxanthin. You'll need at least that much to |
| the population in America between the ages of 66 | | | | get the full antioxidant benefits from the |
| and 74 have macular degeneration, thirty percent | | | | carotenoids. |
| of the population from 75-85 years old. | | | | Lutein and Zeaxanthin |
| What makes these numbers so astonishing is that | | | | Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids |
| these are diseases that do not have to occur at | | | | found in the retina and lens of the eye. When |
| all if people were getting enough antioxidants in | | | | combined with vitamin C and vitamin E, they |
| their diet. Studies suggest that diets rich in | | | | protect your eyes from free radical damage and |
| antioxidants may help reduce your risk of | | | | improve your vision by filtering out |
| developing age-related diseases like glaucoma. | | | | potentially-dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the |
| Foods for Protecting Your Eyesight | | | | sun. |
| For basic prevention of degenerative eye | | | | Bilberry |
| problems, antioxidants called carotenoids are the | | | | For more protection, or for treating specific eye |
| most important ones to consider. Carotenoids are | | | | problems, you could also take one of the |
| found in fruits and vegetables that are red, | | | | combinations that combine lutein and zeaxanthin |
| orange, and deep yellow in color, such as carrots, | | | | with bilberry. These supplements usually contain 10 |
| sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, corn, and | | | | to 20mg. of lutein and about 1mg. of zeaxanthin. |
| peppers, among others. Dark-green leafy | | | | That would be the equivalent of eating about 3 |
| vegetables are some other good sources. The | | | | cups of cooked spinach or a dozen-and-a-half |
| highest concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin is | | | | eggs. The typical dose for bilberry is usually |
| found in egg yolks, another reason not to avoid | | | | between 40mg. for preventive measures and |
| this incredibly nutritious food. | | | | 160mg. per day as a therapeutic dose. |
| Dark green vegetables are other good sources of | | | | Ginkgo Biloba |
| lutein and zeaxanthin. Think of kale, spinach, turnip | | | | Ginkgo Biloba is an herbal supplement that has also |
| greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, | | | | been shown to be extremely beneficial for eye |
| zucchini, garden peas and brussels sprouts, corn, | | | | health. This herb increases blood flow in the |
| kiwi and honeydew. | | | | capillary network and repairs oxidative stress |
| If you eat a lot of foods from this list on a daily | | | | damage to the capillary walls and retina. Ginkgo is |
| basis, you are probably giving your eyes all the | | | | certainly a valuable part of a glaucoma prevention |
| antioxidants they need for glaucoma prevention. | | | | program, as well as for cataracts and macular |
| However, I suspect that this includes a very small | | | | degeneration. |
| percentage of the population. How about you? | | | | Astaxanthin |
| When Should You Supplement Your Diet with | | | | Another relatively new discovery for eye |
| Carotenoids? | | | | problems is the carotenoid astaxanthin, extracted |
| If you're not keen on these foods, or you have | | | | from microalgae. Astaxanthin is one of the most |
| some already-developed symptoms of | | | | powerful antioxidants that we know of. It is one |
| degenerative eye disease, you might want to | | | | of the few antioxidants that can cross the |
| consider nutritional supplements specifically | | | | blood-retinal barrier and bring protection to the |
| designed for eye nutrition. A single capsule of one | | | | eyes. It is said to be more beneficial for the eyes |
| of these can provide you with 25,000 | | | | in some ways than lutein. It also works all |
| International Units of mixed carotenes, an amount | | | | throughout the body -- organs and skin, and in |
| large enough to get powerful antioxidant | | | | every part of the cell. |
| protection from cancer and heart disease, as well | | | | Eyesight Combination Products |
| as eye problems. In order to get that much from | | | | Some product-makers create antioxidant |
| your diet, though, you'd have to eat these | | | | combinations specially formulated for eyesight. |
| amounts of any one of the following: | | | | These will include any number of nutrients |
| - 3 medium-sized cooked carrots, or | | | | beneficial for the eyes, including some of the ones |
| - 3 cups of collard greens | | | | mentioned above. What you pay for with the |
| - 2 cups of spinach | | | | convenience of just one combination capsule is |
| - 3 sweet potatoes | | | | that the dosages of each will be somewhat lower |
| - 9 cups of cantaloupe | | | | than if they were separate supplements. |
| - 6 cups of red peppers | | | | Don't Drop Out the Veggies Altogether! |
| You can see why taking carotene supplements | | | | Remember that carotenoid supplements will not |
| can be so powerful! | | | | have all of the phytonutrients that are present in |
| What are the Best Carotenoid Supplements for | | | | the foods themselves, so don't drop out the |
| Glaucoma Prevention? | | | | veggies altogether! Diet is a key part of any |
| Mixed-Carotene Supplements Look for natural, | | | | glaucoma prevention program. |
| mixed carotenes combined into one capsule. The | | | | |